Straight answers.

Short guides to padel kit, slang and gifts. Written to be useful first, and to sell you a skin a distant second.

Padel slang

What does por tres mean in padel?

Por tres (x3) is a padel smash that bounces, hits the back glass and leaves the court over the three-metre side wall. How it works and why it wins the point.

Kit guide

Padel racket protectors: what they do and whether you need one

A padel racket protector covers the top of the frame, where rackets hit the glass and scrape the court. The types, what they weigh and how to fit one.

Gift guide

Padel gifts: what players actually want

Padel gift ideas sorted by budget, from overgrips to a racket of their own, with honest notes on which ones are safe to buy without knowing their kit.